Paper Flower (film)
Encyclopedia
Paper Flower is a short narrative film by Toy Gun Films
that premiered internationally in Tokyo
in February 2011. Following Paper Flower’s international premiere, the short film premiered domestically in the U.S. at the Beverly Hills Film Festival
on April 8, 2011. Paper Flower was directed by Brent Ryan Green
, written by Jeff Goldberg, and produced by Toy Gun Films Toy Gun Films The film also features Thomas Marvel as the cinematographer and Aska Matsumiya Your Enemies Friends
as the musical composer, the film was inspired by a collection of true stories surrounding the issue of Enjo-kōsai援助交際? or compensated dating and materialism
that families face throughout Tokyo
. Paper Flower focuses on the friendship of two childhood friends, Asuka and Michi are growing up in Tokyo where a casual form of prostitution known as compensated dating has become a disturbing trend. When they each experience heartbreaking losses, they are forced to decide how much of themselves they are willing to give in order to find true love.
, and her best childhood friend, Michi, played by Ayami Kakiuchi, are young girls who live in the fast, savvy city of Tokyo
, where being fashionable is a not a social cliché, but a social requirement. Although the girl’s are leading two different kinds of lives, they find they must decide how much of themselves they must give up in order to find true love
. The movie follows the story of Asuka as she compromises herself in order to get what she thinks she wants, but instead, she finds something entirely different that she never knew she wanted or needed.
Toy Gun Films
Toy Gun Films is a production company that is in the process of developing a diverse slate of art house films. The company believes that just like a toy gun is a weapon of imagination, film is a weapon of imagination that has the power to transform hearts and minds...
that premiered internationally in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
in February 2011. Following Paper Flower’s international premiere, the short film premiered domestically in the U.S. at the Beverly Hills Film Festival
Beverly Hills Film Festival
The Beverly Hills Film Festival is a film festival in the United States founded by award-winning independent filmmaker Nino Simone in 2001. The festival debuted in 2001, and has shown regular growth each year...
on April 8, 2011. Paper Flower was directed by Brent Ryan Green
Brent Ryan Green
Brent Ryan Green is an award-winning film director from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States.-Career:Green began his film career in 2004 working on the feature film End of the Spear...
, written by Jeff Goldberg, and produced by Toy Gun Films Toy Gun Films The film also features Thomas Marvel as the cinematographer and Aska Matsumiya Your Enemies Friends
Your Enemies Friends
Your Enemies Friends is a post-hardcore rock band that formed in late 2001 in Los Angeles, California.They have shared the stage with bands such as ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, Blonde Redhead, The Icarus Line, TV on the Radio, The Promise Ring, and The Mars Volta.After enlisting...
as the musical composer, the film was inspired by a collection of true stories surrounding the issue of Enjo-kōsai援助交際? or compensated dating and materialism
Materialism
In philosophy, the theory of materialism holds that the only thing that exists is matter; that all things are composed of material and all phenomena are the result of material interactions. In other words, matter is the only substance...
that families face throughout Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. Paper Flower focuses on the friendship of two childhood friends, Asuka and Michi are growing up in Tokyo where a casual form of prostitution known as compensated dating has become a disturbing trend. When they each experience heartbreaking losses, they are forced to decide how much of themselves they are willing to give in order to find true love.
Plot
Asuka, played by Anna IshibashiAnna Ishibashi
is Japanese model and actress who plays Asami Tadokoro in Akai Ito. She was given a Best New Talent award at the 2009 Yokohama Film Festival. She recently played the lead role as the character Asuka in Toy Gun Film's 2011 short film, Paper Flower .-References:...
, and her best childhood friend, Michi, played by Ayami Kakiuchi, are young girls who live in the fast, savvy city of Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, where being fashionable is a not a social cliché, but a social requirement. Although the girl’s are leading two different kinds of lives, they find they must decide how much of themselves they must give up in order to find true love
Love
Love is an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment. In philosophical context, love is a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection. Love is central to many religions, as in the Christian phrase, "God is love" or Agape in the Canonical gospels...
. The movie follows the story of Asuka as she compromises herself in order to get what she thinks she wants, but instead, she finds something entirely different that she never knew she wanted or needed.
Cast
- Asuka – Anna Ishibashi
- Michi – Ayami Kakiuchi
- Toru (Asuka’s Father)– Yasunari Takeshima
- Reiko (Asuka’s Mother)- Asuka Kurosawa
- Kiyoshi (Michi’s Father) – Kenichi Takitoh
- Masami (Michi’s Mother) – Mariko Tsutsui
- Ukita (Business Man)– Yoshiyuki Morishita
- Young Asuka – Jurie Takeda
- Adult Man – Shunya Tajima
- Adult Woman- Ayako Ko
- Tomio- Yasumasa Kitada
- Brand Girl- Mitsumi Hiromura
- Funeral Guests- Toraemon Utazawa
Yuko Hisamatsu
Tomoyuki Inoue
Yuki Enomoto
Kihachiro Uemura
Norie Ide
Toshiki Izumisawa
Mizuki Oda
Festivals
Paper Flower has been officially selected into:- Beverly Hills Film Festival 2010
- DeadCENTER Film FestivalDeadCENTER Film FestivalThe deadCENTER Film Festival was founded in 2001 in Oklahoma City. The festival was named "deadCENTER" because it is located in the exact center of the United States...
- New Filmmakers Film Festival
- Showbiz Expo
- Mosaic Film Festival of Los Angeles- Won 1st Place of Best Short Film and Audience Choice Awards
- The Film Festival of Colorado
- Breckenridge Film FestivalWon Best Spiritual
- The Indie Fest-Won Merit Award for Short Film and Direction
- San Antonio Film Festival
- Transforming Stories International Christian Film Festival
- Indie Gathering International Film FestivalWon 4th Place
- Accolade Competition Won Award of Merit for Short Film
- Texas International Film Festival
- Ruby Mountain Film Festival
- 3rd Inigo International Film Festival
- HollyShorts Film Festival
- Williamsburg International Film Festival
- Route 66 International Film Festival
- SoCal Film Festival - Honorable Mention
- Heartland Truly Moving Pictures Film Festival
- Miami Short Film Festival
- Tallgrass International Film Festival
Press
- http://www.okgazette.com/oklahoma/tag-0-1-Toy%20Gun%20Films.html “Paper Flower Debuts with Free Public Screening”
- http://newsok.com/article/3535932 “Short Film to Premiere Saturday”
- http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/2011/01/28/oklahoma-city-premiere-of-short-film-paper-flower-set-for-saturday/ “Oklahoma City Premiere of Short Film set for Saturday” by Brandy McDonnell
- http://newsok.com/multimedia/video/490915051001/"Local Production Company Films in Tokyo" with Angi Bruss
- http://www.reddirtchronicles.com/2011/03/a-shot-seen-round-the-world-toy-gun-films-a-discussion-with-brent-green/ "Shot Seen Around the World"